Mid 50's Olympus 35 S

[Jack Conrad]

Does anyone own or know much about this little RF?
I stumbled on a relatively decent looking one at an antique extravaganza today. The seller was asking $40.
The shutter fired and the viewfinder seemed clean and fairly accurate.
A pretty, well made little unit from what I gathered.

If I remember it had a 40ish F1.9 Zuiko lens.

It needs a good cleaning up and I wish I knew more other than it felt good in my hands.

Does $40.00 sound like a reasonable price for this RF?

 

[burninfilm]

That's a really good price for an older Olympus 35S. They're actually somewhat collectible... alot of the early Olympus stuff is somewhat valuable.

 

[bgb]

Did you manage to find a photo on the web? I have a Olympus S with a Cds meter from 1963 ... it's off at the camera tech at the moment getting some TLC
There is a thumbnail of it on this thread
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69134

Some info of Olympus history

http://zuserver2.star.ucl.ac.uk/~rwesson/esif/om-sif/camhistory/camhistory.htm

hope it helps,

Brian

 

[Jack Conrad]

Hmmm. You know, when I was messing with the camera, I was thinking this is too nice to be plunked down on a table full of junk. Even the lens cap was kind of cool. Brushed chrome or maybe aluminum. Anyway, it did seem really well made.

Maybe it'll still be there tomorrow.

 

[bgb]

Best you go back tomorrow and adopt it then 🙂
Mine is beautifully made and I'm really looking forward to shooting it when the tech is done working his magic.

 

[Jack Conrad]

Thanks for the links... This one is the earlier version. It has that classic 50's look to it with two windows. It's actually fairly small, but hefty...

 

[btgc]

If aperture works and RF isn't a dud, I'd quickly put $40 on table and move with camera in hand to nearest cafe to celebrate day with tea/coffee.

 

[ludoo]

I just got ans SII with the 1.8 G.Zuiko lens on ebay for 27.50 euros plus shipping. It's not mint, and it will probably need a CLA but I'm pretty happy with my purchase, as I love fixed lens rangefinders and this one looks nicer than most. I have to say I stumbled on the auction by accident while looking for other cameras, a stroke of luck.

 

[Jack Conrad]

I guess I have a rotten memory. It's so bad I keep forgetting how bad my memory is. 🙄
Anyway, I followed ya'lls superior advice. I went back and snatched her for $30.00. 😛

Come to find, she was the three window 42mm 1.8 35S.

Here are some pics after I cleaned the filth off her.

I'm gonna have to pack a fat roll of film in her and see if she still has some mojo.😱

 

[FPjohn]

Very nice.

yours
FPJ

 

[Jack Conrad]

I guess it's an SII as well, but it doesn't have it inscribed anywhere.
Although, the shoe mount meter does say Tower on it, there's no Tower insignia on the body.
Funny, I just seem to attract the Sears stuff. The pics of my new Oly 35S were taken using a Sears 50mm 1.7 lens off a Sears KSX-P SLR. Nice lens, by the way.

I like the look of that meter sitting on top. Kind of dorky cool. The camera is quite compact without it though. Compact, but hefty.

Oh, and the viewfinder seems brighter than my Electro GSN.

 

[Trius]

Oh, that is sweet!

 

[Jack Conrad]

Here's a pic of it next to my Electro 35 GSN, which is absolutely mint, except that after one roll, I think it's consistantly over exposing a little bit. It could be me though.😱

I'm a Newbie to these RF's... I have to admit, they're sexy.

Now if I could just learn how to take pictures.

 

[Jack Conrad]

I just spent the past several hours cleaning, caressing and fussing over an old strange $30. flea market find and I don't think I've ever even bothered to clean my $1000 dslr set-up.

There must be a name for men like me.

 

[Jack Conrad]

Hey, does anyone know how to use the light value dial on the back of this camera? Or maybe a link that explains it?

It can't be too tough, old folks from the fifties could figure it out. lol

Oops, I guess I could say I'm from the fifties.🙂

 

[gavinlg]

I just spent the past several hours cleaning, caressing and fussing over an old strange $30. flea market find and I don't think I've ever even bothered to clean my $1000 dslr set-up.

There must be a name for men like me.

I know exactly what you mean hehe. My pentax 67 that I bought at a Japanese used camera store for the grand total of $80us with a takumar 105mm and works perfectly gets absolutely pampered compared to my $5000 eos dslr setup

 

[bgb]

Nice camera Sir well done 🙂
May I ask the secret to cleaning the outside please ... mine doesn't need cleaning but at the rate i keep adopting unwanted cameras I'm going to need to know sooner or later.

 

[Jack Conrad]

The secret? Q- tips and Scotch.

 

[Jack Conrad]

But you should never drink the Scotch. It's only for cleaning fine mechanical devices.
I should know. This is me a few hours ago.😱

 

[btgc]

Your Sears KSX-P looks like a Ricoh XR-P stepbrother, and lens for sure is same as Chinon 50/1.7 - that's what I can say besides your nicely spent $30